Mr. Dawson is a partner in Nisen & Elliott’s Litigation Group. He concentrates on civil litigation and represents clients in many forums including federal and state courts as well as various regulatory agencies and arbitration forums. Mr. Dawson represents both large and small businesses along with an array of other clients such as Bankruptcy Trustees and entrepreneurs in a wide variety of matters including complex commercial litigation, director and officer liability claims, enforcement of creditor’s rights, avoidance of fraudulent conveyances, resolution of financial disputes, various disputes within the financial industry, construction litigation and other general commercial litigation matters. His experience includes the following:

  • Appellate counsel for corporation in successful appeal related to judgments exceeding $25,000,000
  • Counsel for multiple Bankruptcy Trustees in successful director and officer liability lawsuits which recovered in excess of $2,000,000 for bankruptcy estates
  • Counsel for English corporation in successful defense of lawsuit alleging breach of contract, fraud and conspiracy which included dismissal of all claims pending in the Northern District of Illinois based on lack of jurisdiction
  • Counsel for local corporation in successful defense of lawsuit seeking $1,000,000
  • Counsel for a Bankruptcy Trustee who successfully obtained multiple judgments in excess of $2,000,000 based on lawsuits seeking to avoid fraudulent transfers and related relief
  • Counsel for a post-confirmation debtor who successfully obtained judgments in excess of $10,000,000 against various defendants based on a misappropriation of funds, breaches of fiduciary duties, fraudulent conveyances and other causes of action
  • Counsel for a Bankruptcy Trustee who successfully obtained a settlement in excess of $3,000,000 based on fraudulent conveyances and other causes of action
  • Counsel for an Estate which obtained a $4,500,000 settlement for the family of a deceased burn victim
  • Trial counsel for a Bankruptcy Trustee in a vigorously contested seven week trial which resulted in judgments in favor of the Trustee in excess of $10,000,000 including attorney’s fees and punitive damages
  • Trial counsel in a seven day arbitration against a global investment bank and securities trading and brokerage firm which resulted in a six figure award by the NASD arbitrators plus attorneys’ fees
  • Trial counsel for a Chicago Board of Trade Clearing Firm in a contractual dispute regarding restrictive covenants
  • Trial counsel in the successful defense of alleged CBOT regulatory violations at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange
  • Trial counsel for a Bankruptcy Trustee in the successful defense of an objection to a $1,000,000 settlement
  • Trial counsel for a trucking company in the successful defense of an action seeking damages related to the theft of a railroad box car loaded with electronic equipment
  • Trial counsel for various lenders who have successfully prevented the discharge of debtors and/or the dischargeability of debts
  • Trial counsel for numerous trials and hearings in the United States District Courts and the United States Bankruptcy Courts
  • Trial counsel for various parties in more than ten state court jury trials tried to verdict
  • Trial counsel for arbitration hearings in various forums including the American Arbitration Association
  • Appellate counsel for various appeals which included the preparation of appeal briefs as well as the presentation of oral argument
  • Counsel for individuals appearing before Departments of Professional Regulation
  • Counsel for individuals appearing before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), the National Association of Securities Dealers (“NASD”), the Commodities Futures Trading Association (“CFTC”), the Chicago Board of Trade (“CBOT”), the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME”) and the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”)